When it is as hot outside as it has been here lately, I don’t like to do much cooking (or at least not major cooking anyways).  These Fancy Italian Sandwiches (or Sammies as my baby sister calls them) are so so easy and the perfect go to dinner on a busy and hot weeknight. You can use any variation of deli meats that you want to with this recipe. I usually just pick out the meat based on what is on sale. Sometimes I use just plain turkey while other times I go with the more traditional mix of ham, salami and pepperoni. It is also good with pastrami. You definitely want to go with a melty cheese like provolone or mozzarella but if you have other favorites, feel free to use those.

Fancy Italian Sandwiches

Ingredients

– loaf of flat focaccia bread
– 1 package of sliced soft white cheese (provolone or mozzarella preferred)
– 1 lb of deli meat (turkey, pastrami, ham, salami, pepperoni)
– 1/4 cup of pesto
– olive oil
– red wine vinegar
– Italian spices
– shredded lettuce
– sliced tomato
– thinly sliced red onion
– sliced black olives

Directions

Split the focaccia bread and lay it open faced on a baking sheet. Cover one side with pesto and the other with olive oil. Bake at 400º until warm but not too crunchy. Top the pesto side with the sliced cheese and lay the meat on the olive oil side. Place back in the oven to get warm and the melt the cheese. Top the warm sandwich with your favorite toppings such as shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, thin red onion slices, and black olives. Drizzle the toppings with oil and vinegar and sprinkle on some Italian spices. Close the sandwich and cut into pieces. Serve with your favorite chips!

Much Love,
M